Aston Villa: Don Goodman ‘surprised’ by Morgan Rogers news as Chelsea transfer comparison made
Don Goodman is “surprised” Aston Villa signed Morgan Rogers from Middlesbrough in the January transfer window for the price they did.
Villa paid an initial £8million for Rogers last month in a deal that could potentially rise to £15m if various add-ons are triggered [BBC Sport].
While Goodman is a fan of Rogers, he has questioned the timing of the move and the valuation and admitted suitors will be waiting to take him already if it doesn’t work out at Villa Park.
“I was surprised Aston Villa went for him at this time of year and I was surprised by the figure,” Goodman told Villa News. “I have no doubt that Morgan Rogers has enormous potential, but that’s all it is at the moment.
“Based on what I’ve seen from him at Lincoln, Blackpool, Bournemouth and Middlesbrough, there’s nothing I saw that made me think ‘Aston Villa should go and sign Morgan Rogers’, certainly not for £15m.
“I never really saw it, so it is a surprise to me. He’s gone there early. How much game time he’s going to get I’m unsure. Again, I would question the timing of the move.
“But once a massive club like that comes calling, how are you going to turn that down. You’ve got to back yourself. They’ve brought Rogers in for potential.
“When you look at what Chelsea have played for players with potential, maybe it’s a no-brainer. If it doesn’t work out, it’s a drop in the ocean so it’s a win-win for Rogers and also for Villa.
“If it doesn’t work out, there’s no doubt there’ll be suitors waiting for him. To bring him in in January, I don’t really see the reason for that, but they clearly rate him highly and believe they can develop him quite quickly.”
Morgan Rogers a potential Aston Villa star in the making
It is worth remembering that Middlesbrough paid Manchester City just £1.5m for England Under-21s ace Rogers last summer.
Villa have basically paid a further £6.5m based on what they have seen over the past six months from Rogers in the Championship.
The youngster was involved in 15 goals for Boro in 33 games, including a goal against Chelsea in his final match before departing.
Rogers has so far played just nine minutes for the Villans since arriving, so Unai Emery is likely to take the patient approach with him.
It is then down to Rogers to show exactly what he is capable of. Should he live up to the hype, Villa will not mind paying the rest of his fee.
Hopefully this turns out to be a transfer masterstroke from the club, but only time will tell on that front.
In other Aston Villa news, a 96-per-cent colossus justified Emery’s selection call with his performance against Manchester United.
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